Patents Examined by K. Richard Lee
  • Patent number: 7522030
    Abstract: A starter relay comprises a container composed of an electrical insulating hard resin, a resistor having a positive resistance temperature coefficient and housed in the container, and contact springs of feeding devices having conduction and resilience configured to press the resistor to establish connection with the resistor. The contact springs each include a body, two arms extending from the body, and spaced press-fit contacts extending from the arms to press the resistor. The press-fit contacts of one of the contact springs and the press-fit contacts of the other are arranged in crossed directions. Thus, a broken fragment of the resistor is not pinched between the contact springs even when the resistor pinched is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahide Kobayasi
  • Patent number: 7439845
    Abstract: The invention describes a temperature sensor for a, resistance thermometer having an electric measuring resistor the resistance material of which consists either of a ceramic material or of a metallic resistance material in combination with a ceramic or a mineral carrier; having a protective tube comprising a closed tip and a rear end that provides an access to the inner space of the protective tube and that contains the measuring resistor; having at least one connection wire of the measuring resistor that is brought out through the rear end of the protective tube; and having an electrically insulating filler based on a ceramic or a mineral material that fills the space between the protective tube on the one side and the measuring resistor on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventors: Hans Houben, Robert Hartmann, Helner Lehmann, Werner Schnelder, Amo Marto
  • Patent number: 7439846
    Abstract: A resistance adjusting method, a resistance adjusting element, and a resistance adjusting device are disclosed. The method includes first, second, and third cut-off steps that leave a part having a length capable of preventing cracking of a remaining resistance film. The resistance adjusting element includes first, second, and third cut-off parts. The resistance adjusting device includes a carrier portion, a laser irradiating portion, a drive portion, an image recognition portion, and a final resistance adjustment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7432795
    Abstract: A pressure sensor header for a pressure transducer includes a header shell having a sensor cavity formed therein, a sensor element disposed in the sensor cavity, a fluid medium disposed in the sensor cavity, an isolation diaphragm closing the sensor cavity, and a joining arrangement disposed at an interface of the isolation diaphragm and the header shell, the joining arrangement joining the isolation diaphragm with the header shell. The isolation diaphragm is an integral unit comprising a thin membrane surrounded by a thicker outer ring. The joining arrangement has a recessed female joining element formed in one of the outer ring of the isolation diaphragm and the header shell, and a protruding male joining element formed on the other one of the outer ring of the isolation diaphragm and the header shell, the male joining element received in the female joining element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Kurtz, Adam Kane
  • Patent number: 7427722
    Abstract: A power hand tool includes a rotary adjustment knob for adjusting maximum output torque, which has a plurality of radial ribs, radial locating grooves alternatively arranged on the inner sidewall thereof, and a locating member for supporting the rotary adjustment knob in position, which has a mounting base coupled to a part inside the housing of the power hand tool and two locating portions located at two opposite sides of the mounting base. Each of the locating portions has a protrusion engaged with one of the radial locating grooves of the rotary adjustment knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fu-Tsai Wu
  • Patent number: 7427911
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrical device having improved insulation and reduced partial discharge. The electrical device comprises an electrically conductive resistive element provided on a heat transfer medium for transferring heat from the element. The heat transfer medium includes a layer or body of electrically conductive material and a layer of thermally conductive dielectric material disposed between the element and the electrically conductive material. A continuous film of electrically insulating material, for example a silica over-glaze or polymer encapsulant, is applied around the perimeter of the resistive element to surround the element with the film overlying the edge or edges of the element and the ceramic material adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics UK Ltd.
    Inventor: Jonathan Catchpole
  • Patent number: 7423512
    Abstract: A collection of zinc oxide nanoparticles have been produced by laser pyrolysis. The zinc oxide nanoparticles have average particle diameters of less than about 95 nm and a very narrow particle size distribution. The laser pyrolysis process is characterized by the production of a reactant stream within the reaction chamber, where the reactant stream includes a zinc precursor and other reactants. The zinc precursor can be delivered as an aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: NanoGram Corporation
    Inventors: Hariklia Dris Reitz, Sujeet Kumar, Xiangxin Bi, Nobuyuki Kambe
  • Patent number: 7423514
    Abstract: A thermally stabilized device is described. Single or multiple input ports are accommodated and single and multiple power ports are described. The variation of resistance of a resistor subject to varying power dissipations is minimized by injecting complementary power dissipation and thermally linking it to the resistor. In this manner the temperature of a resistor may be maintained constant even though it dissipates varying amounts of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Bolin Venzke
  • Patent number: 7423513
    Abstract: A circuit board high in reliability and a method for manufacturing the circuit board are provided. The electrical resistance is accurately adjustable without damaging the circuit body even if it is made of resinous material and is free from a change over time. A circuit board in which a resistor (16) consisting of a resistor paste is printed between electrodes (14a) formed on a circuit pattern (14) printed on a printed circuit board (11), wherein a conductor (18) for adjusting the electrical resistance value of the resistor is coated on the surface of the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7423511
    Abstract: There is provided a load sensor that can make accurate measurement without being affected by unnecessary external force and moreover has a simple construction. The load sensor includes a strain generating element (3) which is formed integrally with an installation section (9) attached to an object to be measured and is displaced according to the weight or load of the object to be measured, a sensor plate (13) which is connected to the strain generating element (3) and is distorted according to the displacement of the strain generating element (3), and a strain gauge attached to the sensor plate (13). The strain generating element (3) is placed on one end side of the installation section (9) with the center thereof aligned with the axis of the installation section (9). On the inside of the strain generating element, a reception section (5) for housing the sensor plate is formed, and the sensor plate (13) is housed in the reception section while being held by a holder (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Nagano Keiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nakasone, Yasutaka Ide, Shuji Tohyama
  • Patent number: 7420454
    Abstract: A resistive element in the form of a bent metal plate is placed in a box-shaped case and has electrodes exposed out of the box-shaped case. A heat radiator in the form of a bent metal plate is also placed in the box-shaped case and has heat radiating electrodes exposed out of the box-shaped case. The resistive element and the heat radiator are held out of contact with each other and disposed in criss-cross relation to each other. The box-shaped case is filled with a cement material in surrounding relation to the resistive element and the heat radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: KOA Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Takagi, Koichi Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 7417201
    Abstract: Future motor vehicles will require additional lighting means. Additional lighting means are required, above all, in conjunction with environmental sensors, especially sensors which are used in night vision systems. As a result of the generally increasing number of electric and electronic systems in motor vehicles, such systems must be easy to operate for the driver. The invention thus relates to a switching arrangement which enables a plurality of lighting systems to be ergonomically operated on one motor vehicle. Said switching arrangement comprises a single switch having a plurality of switching stages. In this way, all switching stages pertaining to different lighting systems are located in the same switching region, enabling the lighting systems to be operated in a simple and intuitive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Helmuth Eggers, Gerhard Kurz, Juergen Seekircher, Thomas Wohlgemuth
  • Patent number: 7414212
    Abstract: An emergency stop switch of a shredder is disposed in a preformed hole on the top cover of the shredder and protrudes from the surface of the top cover for the convenience of switching. The emergency stop switch has a switch with the fwd, off, and rev modes; a brake, which is disposed on the switch and has a control part protruding from the shredder top cover for switching among the different modes and a positioning part for assuring the switch mode; a positioning base, which is disposed on a bottom surface of the shredder top cover opposite to the position of the positioning part for assuring the switch mode; and a restoring part, which releases stored energy to push the switch from the fwd or rev mode to the off mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Michilin Prosperity Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Simon Huang
  • Patent number: 7414514
    Abstract: The invention relates to resettable chip-type over-current protection devices and methods of making the same, characterized by directly forming upper and lower electrode conductor and connection electrode conductor on a PPTC substrate so as to constitute a simplified three-layer structure of “electrode conductor-PPTC substrate-electrode conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Inpaq Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kang-Neng Hsu, Kun-Huang Chang
  • Patent number: 7414213
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a keypad for a mobile phone and the keypad manufactured thereby, in which a vacuum deposition layer and a cellophane paper are attached to a lower surface of a key in the keypad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Wook Hwang, Young-Ki Kim, Shin-Chul Kang, Hyun-Jung Jeong, Chang-Youn Hwang, Woo-Seok Chin, Yoon-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 7408437
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a resistor element that makes it possible to adjust the resistance value of a precursor easily in producing a resistance element having a target resistance value from the precursor, as well as to the precursor and a related resistance value adjusting method. A precursor 70 has a meandering resistance pattern formed on a front surface 11 of a substrate 10 as well as at least three trimming lines. The precursor 70 is configured so as to be defined by a geometric sequence that satisfies Inequality 0.5?k<?k+1<?k, where ?k is the general term of the sequence that is obtained by arranging, in descending order, resistance value increases of the precursor at the time of cutting of the respective trimming lines and normalizing the thus-arranged resistance value increases by an initial resistance value of the precursor in a state that none of the trimming lines are cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ueki, Hitoshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 7408126
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide a protective cover over one or more switches on an electronic device. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device includes a housing having a first perforation and a switch coupled to the housing. A switch cover may be placed over the switch to prevent operation of the switch, with the switch cover having a second perforation that aligns with the first perforation of the housing. A locking mechanism may be inserted at least partially through the first and second perforations to lock the switch cover to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin Y. Liu, Manrique Brenes
  • Patent number: 7405371
    Abstract: A locking apparatus for a manual actuation device of a switchboard plant has a trigger mechanism that is activated by an absence of a backup or a defective backup, and a locking mechanism for the manual actuation device. The locking mechanism is coupled to the trigger mechanism and is transferable by the trigger mechanism from a first position releasing the manual actuation device into a second position locking the manual actuation device. The locking apparatus has a simple and cost-effective construction, it is proposed that the locking mechanism has a cover plate which is displaceable between two positions by the trigger mechanism and which, in its first position, blocks a lever configuration under tensile force, of the locking mechanism and, in its second position, releases the lever configuration in order to lock the manual actuation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Clemens Albert, Markus Hornbach
  • Patent number: 7405373
    Abstract: The switch structure according to the present invention is obtained by interposing an elastic connection member between the circuit board provided with electrodes and a push switch fixed to a case of an electronic device. The elastic connection member has a structure in which conductive layers and insulation layers are alternately laminated. The conductive layers of a first lamination layer surface on which the conductive layers and the insulation layers of the elastic connection member are exposed abut against the electrodes so that the electric connections therebetween are established. The push switch is pushed down, and a contact portion thereof abuts against the plurality of conductive layers on a second lamination layer surface, whereby the electrodes are in a conductive state. Even if the push switch is pushed strongly, the elastic connection member deforms to absorb the force. As a result, the switch structure which hardly breaks is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Konishi, Hisashi Fujieda, Fumiyoshi Nagakura, Akiko Asahata, Masaji Kondo, Shigeki Yagi
  • Patent number: 7405370
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant sensing system adapted for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly that includes at least one emitter and at least one sensor disposed in spaced relationship to the emitter. The sensor is operable to detect relative distance to the emitter to thereby detect the condition of the vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle occupant sensing system also includes at least one sensor assembly with a base and an upper slide member slidingly supported for movement toward and away from the base. The upper slide member includes an exterior surface that is continuous to thereby block contaminants from entering the sensor assembly. Also, at least one of the emitter and the sensor is supported by the upper slide member. The vehicle occupant sensing system may be employed in a vehicle seat to detect a condition of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Faisal K. Sallam, Novy A. Medallo, Oliver J. Young